Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Fascination Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 19, 2023

Jean Rollin's "Fascination" (1979) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include archival programs with cast and crew interviews; new audio commentary by author and critic Jeremy Richey; alternate scenes; archival promotional materials; and more. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

It is a bit strange that no one has attempted to remake Jean Rollin’s Fascination. I am not trying to imply that it is a great cult film that somehow has not received the attention it deserves. It is a small, easily forgettable film. It does work, or at least in a way that Rollin’s films typically do, but it would not be the first film I recommend to someone who is eager to explore the director’s oeuvre. However, while very simple, its story has enormous potential, which is of the kind that can produce a seriously exciting genre film. (On the other hand, considering how contemporary genre films go overboard with digital trickery that makes it virtually impossible to produce a quality cinematic atmosphere of the kind that made genre films from the 1960s, 1970s, and even the 1980s very special, it is probably for the better that no one has attempted to remake Fascination).

Somewhere in France. A handsome thief (Jean-Marie Lemaire) has an argument with his partners and runs away with the loot they have agreed to share. While trying to reach London, he breaks into a remote chateau and takes hostage two beautiful girls, Eva (Brigitte Lahaie) and Elizabeth (Franca Mai), who are employed there as chambermaids. The thief then learns from the nervous girls that the baroness (Fanny Magier) who owns the chateau is away with her servants but is expected to return for an important ceremony set to take place later that night. When the thief demands that the girls describe the ceremony to him, they refuse and warn that it will be in his best interest to leave the chateau because it is only a matter of time before their roles reverse. Intrigued by the warning, and shortly after aroused by the girls’ playfulness, the thief initiates his own ceremony that allows him to make love to Elizabeth and temporarily subdue the openly hostile Eva. But several hours later, the thief’s partners surround the chateau, and shortly after the baroness and her servants appear. Then, just as the girls have predicted, the thief becomes a hostage and the main attraction in a very, very strange ceremony.

It is hardly surprising that Fascination quickly turns its most obvious weakness, which is its low-budget, minimalistic appearance, into its greatest strength. This is how Rollin loved to create a memorable atmosphere, and in Fascination he works with the same old and reliable -- at least as far as his work is concerned -- blueprint. So, if you notice that certain parts of the story that is told in Fascination appear underdeveloped but the focus on the atmosphere remains the same, it is not because Rollin struggled with his own screenplay. The buildup to the ceremony and the very unsettling dark reset that comes with its initiation were always Rollin’s top priority.

The end destination, which is the unsettling dark reset, is unlikely to surprise even viewers who are completely unfamiliar with Rollin’s work. As soon as the thief enters the chateau, there are obvious clues everywhere pointing to a change that will almost certainly be as intense as the two girls warn. (The original poster for Fascination is a huge clue, too). What is unclear is how intense it might get. So, even though Fascination does some interesting things to trick that it is an odd crime film, they are not very effective.

The cast is good. However, it must be underscored that the best material is the one where Rollin’s camera observes the actors while they remain silent. This should not be surprising either because it is a very common occurrence in Rollin’s films. (For what it’s worth, Fascination has the all-around best female cast of all Rollin films).

A simple yet very moody soundtrack by Phillippe D’Aram makes Fascination look like a far bigger project than it was. D’Aram's contribution to Walerian Borowczyk’s Immoral Women, which was shot around the same time, accomplishes the same.

Fascination Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Fascination arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The release introduces a brand new 4K restoration of Fascination, which is also available on 4K Blu-ray. However, the 4K Blu-ray release does not have a Blu-ray copy of the restoration.

If you read our review of the 4K Blu-ray release, you will see that I like a lot how the 4K makeover looks in native 4K and 1080p. (I have both discs and was able to do plenty of comparisons while also looking at the original release of Fascination that the Redemption label produced in 2012. Also, if I had to choose between the new 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases, I would probably go for the 1080p presentation as the slightly more convincing one because some darker areas tend to look a little bit better on it. Why? Because on the native 4K presentation, the HDR/Dolby Vision grades darken the visuals a tad too much for my liking. The rest looks very, very good. I did not encounter any encoding anomalies to report in our review. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Fascination Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: French LPCM 1.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

While testing the Blu-ray release, I did not encounter any encoding anomalies. The text below was included in our review of the 4K Blu-ray release of Fascination.

Fascination benefits from a very interesting and very atmospheric soundtrack, so an excellent lossless track can make the viewing experience pretty special. The LPCM 1.0 track is outstanding and ensures precisely that kind of experience. It is very healthy, too. On the previous release of Fascination from the Redemption label, the audio track is very good, but it has some minor pops and imperfections that are rather easy to hear. The English translation is excellent.

Fascination Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction - presented here is an archival introduction recorded by Jean Rollin some years ago. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Rituels: Fascination - this program features clips from archival interviews with Brigitte Lahaie and assistant director Natalie Perrey. The interviewees address Jean Rollin's working methods, the quality of the acting in Fascination, the weak editing work, and the atmosphere that gives it its identity. There is also a short clip with Rollin commenting. In French, with English subtitles. (8 min).

• Philippe D'Aram: The Music of Fascination - this program presents an archival interview with composer Philippe D'Aram in which he discusses his first collaboration with Jean Rollin and the type of music he created once Fascination and its themes were explained to him. In French, with English subtitles. (20 min).

• Virginie Selavy: Love Like Blood - in this new program, critic Virginie Selavy discusses the production of Fascination and its themes. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Alternative Sequences -
  
  1. Sequence One - a lovemaking scene featuring Jean-Marie Lemaire and Brigitte Lahaie. With music. (8 min).
  2, Sequence Two - a lovemaking scene featuring Brigitte Lahaie and a secondary character. With music. (8 min).

• Trailer - a remastered vintage theatrical trailer for Fascination. With music. (3 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional materials for Fascination.

• Eurotika!: Virgins and Vampires - this archival program examines the cinematic legacy of Jean Rollin. The program uses clips from archival interviews with Rollin and several of his films. It was introduced via the TV series Eurotika!. In English, not subtitled. (25 min).

• Commentary - an exclusive audio commentary recorded by critic and author Jeremy Richey.

• Book - an exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by Vanessa Morgan, an archival introduction by Jean Rollin, a previously untranslated archival interview with Rollin, an archival interview with actor Fanny Magier, critic Daniel Bird on the film's soundtrack, and technical credits.

Fascination Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Brigitte Lahaie correctly points out that in some areas the acting is pretty rough, while assistant director Natalie Perrey confesses that the editing could have been managed far more convincingly. But I do not think that these and all other flaws that are attached to them erode the quality of the atmosphere, which is the greatest strength of Fascination. In fact, as odd as it may sound, I think that these flaws are necessary for Jean Rollin's films to appear different from all the other genre films that deal with similar material. Why? Because Rollin recognized the shortcomings of his work and did a lot of creative things to make them appear organic, or at least as far as his vision of cinema was concerned. For this reason, I do not think that bigger budgets, more talented actors, and more experienced cinematographers and editors would have made his films better. Rollin's films are worth tracking down and seeing precisely because they are not great mainstream genre films. In addition to this Blu-ray release, the new 4K restoration is made available on 4K Blu-ray. However. the 4K Blu-ray release does not have a standard Blu-ray copy of it. RECOMMENDED.